Early Bee forage

[snimmo243]

Is Alder of any use to bees as an early source of forage? I'm trying to build up a picture of what there is in my area, things like snowdrops and willow are obvious but I noticed the alder catkins as well
Steven

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[Jon]

I have seen bees on alder catkins. I think they will collect pollen from any type of catkin within range.
I occasionally see bees working whin in early spring if it is handy to the hive.
There seems to be a bit of whin flowering almost all year round but they ignore it later on in my areas as there is better stuff on offer.

[snimmo243]

Thanks Jon that's good to know, of course you know the old saying about whin, when the whin doesn't flower kissing is out of fashion!

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[snimmo243]

Are there any other things that we should be looking for just now

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[Jon]

Are there any other things that we should be looking for just now
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better weather would be the main thing to look out for.
Forage wise there may still be garden stuff like mahonia.
Japanese quince flowers soon as well.

[gavin]

White butterbur is another useful early plant where it is found near your apiary. Bees will go for these damn alien species!

http://wildflowerfinder.org.uk/Flowers/B/Butterbur(White)/butterbur(White)_2008_02_28_WhaleyBridge_CatNFiddl e_Buxton_007p2.jpg

Along with alder they'll go for hazel sometimes too.

[nemphlar]

I had a large alder within 10 yards of the hives for years, it was was a huge loss when the badgers undermined and killed it. There are a couple of younger ones nearby, but the large Loads of golden pollen from that Alder are missed, lucky you

[snimmo243]

I found this website, it has a good section on tree identification
http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/tree-identification/

Steven

[Trog]

Unfortunately the deer discovered that butterbur flower buds were delicious, along with the plants growing in the pond, so we've not had those, or bergenia (also early flowering and delicious), for a couple of years now - nor have we had much of a pond as the deer hooves put holes in the liner :( Nice photo, though, Gavin!